wind
Pronunciation: (n.wind, Literary wīndv.wind), [key]
— n.
- air in natural motion, as that moving horizontally at any velocity along the earth's surface: A gentle wind blew through the valley. High winds were forecast.
- a gale; storm; hurricane.
- any stream of air, as that produced by a bellows or fan.
- air that is blown or forced to produce a musical sound in singing or playing an instrument.
- See
- wind instruments collectively.
- the members of an orchestra or band who play the wind instruments.
- breath or breathing: to catch one's wind.
- the power of breathing freely, as during continued exertion.
- any influential force or trend: strong winds of public opinion.
- a hint or intimation: to catch wind of a stock split.
- air carrying an animal's odor or scent.
- See
- empty talk; mere words.
- vanity; conceitedness.
- gas generated in the stomach and intestines.
- the pit of the stomach where a blow may cause a temporary shortness of breath; solar plexus.
- any direction of the compass.
- a state of unconcern, recklessness, or abandon: to throw all caution to the winds.
- In her profession one is always between wind and water.
- (of a ship) at or near the water line.
- in a vulnerable or precarious spot:In her profession one is always between wind and water.
- to expel gas from the stomach and bowels through the anus.
- what the tendency or probability is: Try to find out how the wind blows.
- sailing directly into the wind; against the wind.
- about to occur; imminent; impending: There's good news in the wind.
-
- away from the wind; with the wind at one's back.
- (of a sailing vessel) headed into the wind with sails shaking or aback.
- as close as possible to the wind.
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- Also,sail close on a wind.to sail as nearly as possible in the direction from which the wind is blowing.
- to practice economy in the management of one's affairs.
- to verge on a breach of propriety or decency.
- to escape (punishment, detection, etc.) by a narrow margin; take a risk.
- to surprise someone, esp. with unpleasant news; stun; shock; flabbergast: She took the wind out of his sails when she announced she was marrying someone else.
—v.t.
- to expose to wind or air.
- to follow by the scent.
- to make short of wind or breath, as by vigorous exercise.
- to let recover breath, as by resting after exertion.
—v.i.
- to catch the scent or odor of game.
wind
Pronunciation: (wīnd), [key]
— v., n. wound wind•ed wind•ing
—v.i.
- to change direction; bend; turn; take a frequently bending course; meander: The river winds through the forest.
- to have a circular or spiral course or direction.
- to coil or twine about something: The ivy winds around the house.
- to proceed circuitously or indirectly.
- to undergo winding or winding up.
- to be twisted or warped, as a board.
—v.t.
- to encircle or wreathe, as with something twined, wrapped, or placed about.
- to roll or coil (thread, string, etc.) into a ball, on a spool, or the like (often fol. by up).
- to remove or take off by unwinding (usually fol. by off or from): She wound the thread off the bobbin.
- to twine, fold, wrap, or place about something.
- to make (a mechanism) operational by tightening the mainspring with a key (often fol. by up): to wind a clock; to wind up a toy.
- to haul or hoist by means of a winch, windlass, or the like (often fol. by up).
- to make (one's or its way) in a bending or curving course: The stream winds its way through the woods.
- to make (one's or its way) by indirect, stealthy, or devious procedure: to wind one's way into another's confidence.
- The war is winding down.
- to lessen in intensity so as to bring or come to a gradual end:The war is winding down.
- to calm down; relax:He's too excited tonight to wind down and sleep.
- He was all wound up before the game.
- to bring to a state of great tension; excite (usually used in the past participle):He was all wound up before the game.
- to bring or come to an end; conclude:to wind up a sales campaign.
- to settle or arrange in order to conclude:to wind up one's affairs.
- to become ultimately:to wind up as a country schoolteacher.
- Baseball.(of a pitcher) to execute a windup.
—n.
- the act of winding.
- a single turn, twist, or bend of something wound: If you give it another wind, you'll break the mainspring.
- a twist producing an uneven surface.
- (of boards, plasterwork, etc.) flat and true.
wind
Pronunciation: (wīnd, wind), [key]
— wind•ed wound, wind•ing.
- to blow (a horn, a blast, etc.).
- to sound by blowing.
- to signal or direct by blasts of the horn or the like.
WInd
- West Indian.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.